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My cat is about to have kittens:

We recently befriended a feral cat only to our surprise he was a she and was getting heavier as the weeks went.  Our family loves animals and took to this outdoor cat.  We fed her everyday and did some research on what to expect from a pregnant cat.  Since she was not tagged and frequently roamed the neighborhood, we gave her a name.  We called her mama kitty, which in fact is the inspiration for this page

Preparing for Momma:   

Momma Cats are normally called Queens.  Queens can have litters on average of 2-5 kittens.  If you have other cats I suggest that you make an area just for her.  She might already be nesting which is a good sign that she is pregnant.  Momma cats can get aggressive in the later stages of pregnancy and will move her kittens to a more private location if she feels that her space is being invaded.  Give Momma lots of attention and make her feel loved so the kittens in her belly will feel loved also (as this is another sign of pregnancy is increased affection).  This is also a big commitment on your part to care for her and her kitties.  Remember that cats can become pregnant after 5 months from birth. 

Queens will increase their food consumption 3 fold.  My vet recommended to start feeding her Kitten Chow right away and it could be up to six times a day.  I also recommend feeding wet food also, since this is more close to their natural diet.  You will see significant increases in her appetite over the next 2-3 months so do not be alarmed. 

Preparing for Kittens:

Queens will have a gestation cycle of 8-9 weeks or 60-70 days.  Pregnancy will show signs in many forms such as nesting, her nipples becoming rosy pink in color, and her belly expanding outwards.  The time flies by quickly so be prepared that it could be sooner rather than later.  During this time she could become aggressive against the other cats in the house.  It’s best to make a place for the Queen.  I put together a large cardboard box with some sheets in it to give her a place to have her kittens.  I recommend putting down some pads or old blankets too because of the mess that comes from birth.  I also recommend finding homes for the kittens before they are born, so that way if you are planning on giving them away you will have time to find them good homes and to limit yourself from getting attached. 

Birth: 

Our Momma Cat gave birth in the middle of the night.  She was breathing hard and stretching a lot.  I could tell she was about to give birth.  The birthing process lasted over 5 hours and was about an hour in-between each birth.  During this time Momma Cat got up and walked around a little bit too.  Make sure she is comfortable and remember not to bother her too much.  I made sure she had plenty of water which you will need to do.  Once a kitten is born she will clean it up.  The kitten is born with its eyes closed and wanders around as much as it can (its not very mobile at this point).  Kittens will latch onto the first nipple they can and start feeding from Mamma right away. 

What do I do with the cats afterbirth:

Once the kitties are born the last thing to be born is the placenta.  The placenta is filled with nutrients, nutrients Mamma Cat will need to regain her strength.  Once the placenta is expelled, she will consume it.  Momma Cat will need plenty of rest, along with lots of food and water.  She might even be lying down for a couple days after birthing.  I would also recommend changing the sheets out so her and her kittens a nice place to sleep.

At this time, start feeding Momma Kitten Chow Cat Food.  It is packed with tons of good stuff for her while she is nursing.  The kittens probably won’t move around a lot either after the first couple of weeks.  They will just feed from their mother and sleep.  At one month they should start moving around more and their eyes will open.  They still should be nursing instead of eating cat food.  Momma Cat usually cleans them up pretty good and they do not usually poop until they are out running around the nest.  I got them their own litter box after a month that they could just step into.  The other litter box I had was too big for them to get into. 

How do I tell the Gender or Sex of Kittens:

Easiest way to tell if you have boy or girl kittens is looking at the space between their butt and their genitals.  Boys will have a gap about the space of a quarter, while girls will be about the space of a dime.  It is pretty tough to tell the gender right away so you might have to wait a month or so.  Remember that kittens can become pregnant after five months from birth.  I recommend taking them into the vet to get their shots and spaying or neutering done.   Call around many places will charge you a lot to have this done, I always recommend the local SPCA.  It can be costly but it is the right thing to do especially if you are going to keep them and even put them outside.  You will want to consult your local vet on care also after the surgery is done.  

About a month and a half to two months is the best time to start training them.  Call them by their names and make simple commands that they all will understand.  Keep feeding them kitten chow even if they are still nursing.  Usually Momma Cat will cut them off after two months.  I would also recommend that everyone use the same command for "no" with the cats name - such as a snap of the fingers so all the cats will know what "no" means.  Once you establish the "no" word, you can teach the cats tricks.  Get some treats and reward when they do what you want such as lay down (you might have to show them a few times first what you want). 

Want to speed up your cat's metabolism & help with breaking down fats? Sprinkle a teaspoon of kelp powder on their food or a standardized capsule of  lecithin mixed with their food.
 
If U can't afford the expensive dry foods that list some type of protein or meat as their FIRST ingredient, at the very least steer away from foods with a lot of dyes or colors such as Meow Mix or some of the house brands. Purina Cat Chow is decent and so is their "Indoor Formula".  Also it is very important to feed wet or canned food at least 3 or 4 times a week, the more the better.  It does not have to be a whole can, just a tablespoon OR 1/4 of a can is sufficient at each feeding. (If you're not giving them a lot of the canned food that day then make sure that you also give them dry food that day also. Cats need to eat  2-3 times a day. The canned food is important because it is most like their natural diet, mice, birds etc...

Take the boredom out of your cat's dry food by adding a splash of tuna water or oil (depending on if you buy the kind in water or oil) or try some SALT-FREE chicken broth-YUM!!!
 
Once in a while give your cat a tablespoon of plain low-fat yogurt (it can actually be given once a day if you want). This is a good source of calcium, good bacteria & extra liquid which are all good for your cat.  

Catnip is a fragrant herb from the "mint family", one out of two cats craves catnip, if you can afford the organic kind opt for it because it is more potent.
 
Pet MORE, Stress LESS! Research has shown that people who pet their cats experience an increase in Theta waves, a brain wave pattern that reduces feelings of anxiety. Just a few minutes of petting releases a healthy amount of positive biochemical's such as dopamine, oxytocin, prolactin & serotonin. Your pet benefits as well.
 
A cat's tail = a mood indicator. When walking & held loosely upright this signals confidence. A tail that flicks toward U means "Hello, my friend." Whipping the tail from side to side or thumping it on the floor signifies agitation. A puffed up tail indicates total fright whereas a lightly twitching tail sends the message that they are in a state of calm awareness.
 
Kittens & cats are most active at dawn & dusk, this is because it is in their genes to do their best hunting & stalking at these times also.
 
Take some time to do a visual & hands on inspection of your cat's entire body. Look for lumps, bumps, sore spots, or any changes in fur & skin. Also make sure to check eyes, ears & mouth . Early detection of a possible health problem could save your pet's life!!!
 
In the Winter time or when it is cold enough where U live, warm a small, clean blanket in the dryer for 5-10 minutes, then drape over your cat or let them lay on it. This may also help if your cat has arthritis by improving blood flow and soothing muscle aches.

My cat has matted fur how do I get rid of it?

When cats get older they can develop matted fur.  Matted fur is caused from the cat being to old or overweight to clean it self.  Usually the matted fur is by the tail on their back.  The fur knots up and pulls on the cats skin.  Over time this can build up and cause the cat to experience pain and walking problems.  I would call four or five places to find the best price on cat baths, but this can be a common solution to the problem.  Brushing your cat once in a while will also help keep the matting problem away.  Be very careful if you decide to cut the mats out because it can cause more pain from the fur pulling on their skin.     

How frequently should I brush my cat?

Cats should be brushed once a week.  Grooming is great for their self esteem.

How many litter boxes should I have?

You should have 1 litter box for every cat and +1.  Meaning if you have 2 cats you should have 3 litter boxes.  Litter boxes should be open at the top and cleaned frequently.  Cats are finicky and do not enjoy a dirty litter box.  Clean the litter often and change it at least every couple of days.  

Baking soda can really help w/ odor in the litter box. After cleaning your litter box sprinkle some baking soda on the top of the whole area of the litter then add some fresh litter over the baking soda. Also NEVER place the litter box near where your cat eats/drinks at. Cats don't like to eat near their bathroom spot! would you?!?!  

My cat is peeing and pooping on the couch and blankets what should I do?  

Your cat may be sick, so you should take it to the vet.  Males tend to spray if they are smelling other animals around the house and should be fixed after 3 months to avoid spraying.  If you cat is stressed it will also poop and pee in odd places.  Make sure you clean these spots right away so it prevents them from spraying in the same spot.  Fixing them can take up to two weeks or longer to stop them from spraying.  You can also put litter boxes in the areas that they are spraying also.  

What should I clean the cat spray with?

You should clean cat spray immediately or they might keep spraying in the same spot.  You can use home remedies to clean the spots, but remember that cat urine is made up of ammonia so make sure you are not using that to clean up the spots or they will spray again.  I found MisterMax's Anti-Icky-Poo to be the best since it gets rid of the enzymes which can stay around if you do not clean it correctly.   This is usually sold at any retail pet store or local vet office. 

My cat is tearing up the furniture what should I do?  

Make sure they have a scratching post around.  Also you can get some pet trimmers that do not clip the claws, instead they file them down.  I found  Pedipaws to work best.   

News articles for cat lovers:

Here is another new article check out this kitty with four ears his name is Yoda:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1046684/Meet-Yoda-cat-FOUR-ears.html

Here is a kitty in china with wings:

http://www.lemondrop.com/2009/05/28/kitty-with-wings-baffles-science-delights-us/

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